Haven 2: Redemption

by Sandra R Neeley

  “That shraler was stalking Rokai. Had he stung Rokai, Rokai would have died. Though he was older, he was smaller because of his Quari blood and didn’t have the ability to withstand the sting. You threw yourself in front of your brother to protect him. I was terrified for you both and so proud of you for protecting Rokai. I sat with you for days until the venom left your body. Rokai did, too. He never left your side the whole time,” Eula said, her voice soft as she remembered.

  “What happened, Mother? Why does he hate me so much?” Zha Quin asked.

  “He doesn’t hate you. He resents us all. He resents the fact that he was never made to feel like one of us, one of our family. And he resents that you, being the oldest of your father’s children, were always revered and thrust forward as the next Sovereign of our planet, while he was completely hidden away. I wish I’d been older. I’d have presented him to the world and defied everyone who pressured me into sending him away.”

  “Have you ever told him any of this?” Vivian asked.

  There were no verbal answers, just a lot of head shaking.

  “He needs to know,” Vivian said.

  “He will not even respond when we make any effort at all to contact him. It’s as if we are dead to him,” Zha Tahl admitted.

  “He still needs to know!” Vivian insisted.

  Chapter 11

  Rosie sat in the lounge that had become a favorite relaxation spot for most everyone aboard Command Warship 1. Vivian had overseen the creation of the lounge and had it built in likeness to a 1980’s nightclub complete with a large bar against the far wall. There were high tables with chairs around them, as well as tables of regular height with overstuffed chairs around them on an upper level of the lounge. Love seats were placed strategically around the perimeter of the upper level for easy visitation and talking, and a large wooden-looking dance floor placed invitingly in the center. Completing the lounge was a robotic D.J. booth that would play any song requested as long as it was saved in its database and the flashing colored lights to go along with the songs as well.

  She’d hoped Rokai would be here, but so far hadn’t seen him. Still she was having a nice time. Rosie smiled as she watched the large, horned males of the species that had freed her and the other women excitedly take to the dance floor and gyrate their hips, their arms in the air as they moved their bodies to the beat of the music. They clearly loved the pastime and eagerly danced with any female who was willing.

  Rosie sipped her drink. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it tasted much like a Pina-Colada back on Earth did. Lots of pineapple and coconut flavors with a few others that she couldn’t quite identify. She’d danced with one of the males for several songs before excusing herself and going back to her table to reclaim her drink. And now she was trying to catch her breath and relax some.

  A shadow fell across her blocking her from the flashing colored lights in the darkened nightclub. Rosie looked up and found herself the intent focus of a pale green male’s attention. Her stomach did a little flip of excitement. She’d had a feeling he was here somewhere, and here he was.

  “Papi. How can I help you?” she said, sitting back gingerly and sipping on her drink while she peeked at him over the rim waiting for him to answer.

  “You danced with the other male,” Rokai said simply.

  “Of course I did. I wanted to dance, he offered, we danced.”

  “You have not danced with me,” he pointed out.

  “You’ve not invited me to dance,” Rosie said.

  “You will dance with me,” Rokai said, reaching for her hand.

  Rosie yanked her hand from his. “I don’t think so.”

  “You just said you would dance with me!” he objected.

  “No, I didn’t. I said you hadn’t invited me to dance,” Rosie said with a definite tone in her voice.

  “Now I have!” Rokai insisted, growing irritated.

  “No, you haven’t. You told me I was going to dance with you. Nobody tells me what to do.”

  “It is the same!” Rokai insisted, again reaching for her hand.

  Rosie reached toward his hand, making Rokai think she was planning to slip her hand into his, but rather than put her hand to his, she slapped his hand as hard as she could. “I told you, nobody tells me what to do. You want to dance with me? You ask me nicely. I may, or I may not. You want to be sure that I interact with you in no way, shape or form? Try to tell me what I’m going to do. I’ll do the opposite, just to prove that I can,” Rosie said, a deceiving smile on her face and a no nonsense tone in her voice.

  “You are a very trying female!” Rokai accused, glaring at Rosie.

  “You have no idea, buddy,” Rosie agreed.

  “I am not buddy.”

  “I know that,” Rosie said, grinning while she sipped her drink again.

  “I am not Papi,” Rokai continued.

  “I’m aware of that, too,” Rosie said.

  “I am Rokai!” he said with emphasis.

  “I know, I know. Conquerer of all, infamous bad boy, lover extraordinaire, thief of hearts. Did I forget anything?” she asked sweetly, batting her eyes at him.

  “Some, but it is good the way you say it,” he nodded, glad that she was finally recognizing him for the male he was.

  “Good,” Rosie agreed. “Still never heard of you.”

  Rokai snarled, threw his hands in the air and stalked away from her. She could only hear the translation the ship’s computer provided while he was close enough for her to hear his voice. After that point, his snarls weren’t heard at all, they were only seen.

  Shortly after he left her at her table, another male approached. “Will you like to dance?” he asked.

  Rosie smiled. “Yes, I would. Thank you very much for inviting me to dance.” She stood, placed her hand in his and allowed him to guide her out onto the floor. The dance music was fast, with an electronic beat. They laughed as she taught him a dance he’d not yet learned. Then the music turned slow, a love ballad, and the male stood in front of her, not quite sure what to do.

  “I do not know the dance of the slow musics,” he said, looking around as most of the other couples had left the dance floor.

  “Would you like to learn, or do you want to wait for another fast one?” Rosie asked.

  “I would like to learn, I think.”

  “Well, come on.” She held her hands up in the air, indicating that he should come closer. When he approached, she took one of his hands and placed it on her hip. “My back is a little sore, so please don’t touch my back. But normally, you would put your arm around your partner’s back and hold her here,” Rosie said, leaning in and tapping his back to show him where he’d place his hand on a female.

  “I understand,” the male responded.

  “Now place your other hand on my hip, just like this one,” she said.

  The male had both hands on her hips, his fingers lightly trailing to the small of her back. “Am I hurting your back here?” he asked, being careful not to cause her pain.

  “No, that’s good. The pain is higher. Now, I put my arms around your neck,” she reached up, but couldn't quite make it to his neck, these males were tall.

  The male leaned over a bit, so she could reach his neck.

  “Thanks!” Rosie said, linking her hands behind his neck. “Now, we stand close together and sway to the rhythm of the music. Just do what I do and move with me,” she explained.

  Rosie began to move, and the male watched her for a moment before grinning and falling into step with her. He was a surprisingly graceful dancer.

  The male grinned the entire dance, and even when Rosie turned them in a circle, he kept up. “I am dancing the slow musics!” he said.

  “Yes, you are. And you’re doing very well,” Rosie complimented.

  Before the dance ended, the male looked over her shoulder and then back down at Rosie. “I believe your male is not happy that I am dancing the slow musics with you.”

  “I don’t have a male,�
�� Rosie said, wrinkling her nose in confusion.

  “I think he believes you do.”

  The male turned her so that she could see what he was talking about. Rokai stood there, on the edge of the dance floor, snarling, his eyes glued to them. His teeth somewhat larger and sharper than Rosie remembered.

  Rosie turned back to her dance partner. “Do you care that he is all snarly and angry?”

  “No. He does not frighten me. Do you care?” he asked.

  “Nope. Not one bit,” she answered.

  They finished their dance, and the male escorted her back to her table. “Our Sirena has taught us to be gentlemanly. She says that if a female has given you the privilege of a dance, you must escort her back to her table or to wherever she was if your dances are finished. She said it is just rude to leave a female standing on the dance floor.”

  “Your Sirena is correct,” Rosie said, chuckling.

  Once she was again seated, her drink in hand, he bowed deeply to her. “Thank you very much for teaching me the dancing of the slow musics. I will now go invite others to dance as well.”

  “You are very welcome. Have fun,” she said, smiling. She liked these males, they were very honest, and very kind. This one, for example, just wanted to dance. He didn’t pretend to want more.

  The moment he stepped away, she started to slide out of the chair. She’d had enough and was going to go back to her room, but a very large presence stopped her from standing.

  “You danced with another male,” Rokai snarled at her. His face was anything but polite.

  “I did. He asked nicely.”

  “I asked nicely,” he insisted.

  “No, you told me what I was going to do,” Rosie said calmly.

  Rokai stood there, watching her for a moment longer. She was sure he was going to walk away from her, when suddenly he surprised her.

  “Rosalita Consuela Contreras-Villanueva, will you please allow me to dance with you?” he said. His tone inferred that he was pissed he had to ask her permission to dance with her, but he did it nonetheless.

  Rosie hid a grin. “You want to dance with me?” she asked.

  “I just said I did, many times!” Rokai said exasperatedly.

  Rosie considered refusing just to see how far she could push him, but decided to take pity on him. He obviously wasn’t used to asking for anything at all. She had no doubt he simply took all he wanted.

  “Yes, I would be very happy to dance with you,” she said, turning to face him.

  His lips turned up at their corners to form a perfect smile. His eyes danced themselves, practically sparkling. He held his hands out for her to take, and she’d have sworn she saw his eyes flare when she placed her hand in his. He led her to the center of the dance floor and placed his hands on her hips where the other male had placed them. He wasn’t quite as tall as the other male, and he was a bit more slender, so she could just manage to get her arms around his neck, linking her hands behind him.

  Slowly, almost expertly, he began to dance her around the floor. The more they danced, the closer he pulled her, until his body was pressed against hers. His hands began to slowly move up her back. She flinched and stopped moving.

  “What is wrong?” Rokai asked.

  “My back hurts, please don’t touch it,” she explained.

  His hands were just above the small of her back. “Am I touching your hurt now?” he asked.

  Rosie shook her head. “No, it’s just about here,” she said, touching his back, “it’s an injury that’s taking a while to heal.”

  Rokai nodded. “I will not touch your injury.” They began to dance again; it seemed someone had requested quite a lot of slow songs.

  Rosie looked around and realized that her first dance partner had done so, and was happily working his way through all the females that wanted to slow dance. He waved at her and smiled broadly.

  Rosie smiled back and waved at him.

  “You should not encourage him,” Rokai snapped at her.

  “Encourage him to do what?” she asked.

  “To dance with you again,” he answered.

  “I’m simply saying hello. I think it’s nice that he’s enjoying the dance I taught him and teaching it to others.”

  Rokai turned her so that she could no longer see the other male. “I am learning a new dance also. It is nice as well, yes?” he asked.

  Rosie grinned. He was jealous. “Yes, it is nice that you are learning a new dance, too.”

  “And I am dancing it better than he did,” Rokai told her.

  “Is that so?” she asked.

  “Yes. It is so. I am holding you closer and am careful not to touch your injury. I am doing it better,” he insisted.

  “Well, alrighty then,” Rosie said, chuckling.

  They danced a bit longer, with Rokai experimenting and turning her in circles as he moved her around the dance floor.

  “I will know who injured you,” he finally said.

  “I’m sorry?” she asked.

  “Do not apologize. You did nothing to cause an apology. Just tell me who injured you.”

  “Why?” Rosie asked.

  “Because I will kill them. So, to be sure that I am killing the correct person, please give me their name,” he said, ending on what would have been a charming smile, had he not just promised her he’d kill the person who harmed her as though he was promising to bring her flowers the next time he saw her.

  Rosie stopped dancing. She looked at Rokai like he’d lost his mind, then, she laughed so hard tears were running down her face. It took a while before she finally caught her breath, before he made her laugh all over again.

  He stood there, a petulant pout on his beautiful, full lips, his arms crossed over his chest. “I do not see the humor in my question, Rosalita. It is a fairly normal request. Tell the name of the person who harmed you, so that I may kill them,” he said, frustration beginning to build in his voice.

  Rosie started laughing again, then just started walking toward her table.

  Rokai followed along. “Why do you leave. We are not finished dancing.”

  “Yes, Papi, we are. I’m tired. I’m going home, and I’m going to sleep,” Rosie said, a smile still on her face from his questions.

  “I am not finished dancing,” he said again.

  “Look, there are other females here. Dance with one of them. I’m done for tonight.”

  Rokai looked at the other females around the night club. “I do not wish to dance with them.”

  Rosie looked around the room. There were a few other humans and other species as well. “Some of them are very beautiful. You should go dance with them.”

  Rokai looked at them again. “No.”

  “Suit yourself. I’m out, I have a bed calling my name. I’m done for tonight,” Rosie said, walking past Rokai.

  Rokai watched her walk past him. He looked across the room to where Gaishon was deep in conversation with several females. Rokai raised his arm in the air and indicated Rosie leaving the lounge. Gaishon stood, pointed to himself and raised his eyebrows to ask if Rokai needed him. Rokai shook his head and started after Rosie. Gaishon, satisfied that his friend was going home with the female he’d been searching for, sat back down and rejoined the conversation.

  Rosie waited at the lift for the doors to open. She heard footsteps and turned to see who was headed toward her. She shook her head when she saw it was Rokai.

  “I am seeing you to your rooms,” he informed her.

  “Thanks, but I don’t need you,” she told him.

  “I will see you to your rooms anyway,” he said.

  “Haven’t I taught you anything about asking permission?” Rosie asked.

  “No,” he answered.

  Chapter 12

  The doors opened, and Rosie stepped inside the lift with Rokai following along.

  “Why are you determined to irritate me?” Rosie asked.

  “I do not irritate. I seize. I steal. I kill. I capture. I smuggle. I pleas
ure. I free. But I do not irritate,” he explained.

  Rosie laughed. “Oh, yes, you do actually.”

  Rokai simply shrugged and took his place beside her, staring straight ahead as she did, waiting for the lift to open.

  After a moment of silence he spoke again, though he kept facing forward. “Why will you not tell me who I need to kill?”

  Rosie was tired of the games they were playing. She decided to answer him truthfully. “I don’t know their names.”

  “Their?” Rokai asked, still looking forward.

  “Yes. There were more than one. From what I understand the Commander of this ship killed those that kidnapped me from my home. And some of his men as well. But, I honestly don’t know who whipped me. I don’t know. I don’t know the names of all the…” She stopped talking, starting to be overcome with emotion.

  Rokai reached out just as the doors to the lift were about to open and pressed the button to stop them. He turned to face her.

  It took a moment, but Rosie managed to get her emotions under control again. She looked up at Rokai. “I’m sorry. I just don’t know.”

  “Why do you apologize when you have nothing to apologize for?”

  “I guess I feel like I need to. This is my crap to carry around. No one else should have to deal with a sniveling woman. I’ll work it out,” she said, turning to face the front of the lift again.

  “I wish to see your injury,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “What?! No! It’s none of your business,” Rosie snapped at him.

  “I wish to see. Please,” he tried, adding please as an afterthought.

  “No! I don’t even know you.”

  “Perhaps I can determine the species of those that injured you if you allow me to see the injury,” Rokai explained.

  “Make the doors open, Rokai,” she said, no humor in her voice at all.

  “Ah, so you do know my name,” he said proudly.

  “Of course, I do, Papi. I’m difficult, not dumb,” Rosie answered.

  Rokai reached out a hand, gently cupping her cheek. Her entire body froze in place. “Please, Rosalita. May I please see the injury to your back so that I may try to identify the species of the male that hurt you and possibly kill him? Or maybe even all of them?” he asked softly.