by M. K. Eidem
"That's bullshit and you know it! You still matter, Jen!"
"For what?!! To be a charity case?!! I won't be that, Mac!"
"Who's asking you to be?!! Damn it, Jen, you kept us alive in that mine! How, I'll never know, but you made it so the food they gave us was enough. We survived!"
"Not all of us," Jen said quietly, and the pain in her voice had tears rolling down Mac's face.
"And that wasn't your fault, Jen."
"Wasn't it? I was the one that refused to leave that damn ring in the tent."
"So? There was no way you could have known what was going to happen."
"Those damn rings shouldn't have mattered so much."
"Of course, they should have. The man you loved gave them to you.
"Fuck that! He should have mattered more."
"And he did. You fought for him, Jen. Only you."
"Yeah, and I lost..." The fight went out of Jen's voice. "You should have let me die, Mac."
"No. You were meant to survive, Jen. So you could save the rest of us."
"And now?"
"And now you have to survive so you can make it right with your sister."
"Kimmy," Jen whispered.
"Yes, Kimmy. Remember her? You need to survive so you can get back to her."
"Even if we can get back, she hates me. She has every right to."
"She doesn't. You're her sister, the only family she has left. She's going to want you back."
"You think so?"
"I know and..." Mac trailed off as she looked behind Jen.
"What?" Jen swung around fearing the worst, only to have a smile break out across her face as Paul walked out of the cleansing unit, his hair trimmed and his face clean-shaven. "Paul..."
Mac couldn't believe how good Paul looked. If it weren’t for the weight loss, she'd say he looked as good as he did the day she first met him. "Damn, Paul, if we weren't both married I'd be all over you."
"Yes, well he's all mine, Mackenzie Wharton, so you keep your hands off him," Eric said walking up to his husband. "I always said you cleaned up good."
"Yes, well you're next," Paul said wiggling his knife at Eric. "I've been waiting years to have you at my mercy. So come on, it's time to make you amazingly handsome again."
"Like I haven't always been," Eric argued, but he willingly followed Paul into the cleansing room.
"God, those two never get old," Mac said laughing.
"You should have seen them at Todd's and my wedding."
"A good time?" Mac asked.
"The best," Jen confirmed. "They did this dance that stole the show."
"And that didn't bother you?"
"Me? No. Todd, maybe, but then Todd always liked to be the center of attention. As long as it made him look good."
"Jen..."
"Mac, we've been together too long, you know all my secrets. Todd wasn't perfect, but he didn't deserve to die that way. He was my husband, and I will honor him."
"I know, Jen, but you need to honor him by surviving, and you can't do that if you don't let Luol treat you."
"I'll think about it." She squeezed Mac's hand. "Seriously, I will."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Nikhil had his blaster drawn as he made his way through the mine, the confines of the walls making it impossible for him to use his sword. So far they'd discovered nothing but empty caves. Stepping in to search the next one, he felt his heart start to pound as he recognized it from Mackenzie's description. This cave was where the Zaludians had kept his True Mate. This was where she'd had to learn to survive with males that, while they had protected her to a point when it came right down to it, they had let her go.
He moved to the back of the cave searching for the crevice she said she'd used to hide in. Finding it, he could understand why the Zaludians had never found her. From the front, it looked like any other wall. It wasn't until you got right up next to it that you saw the narrow opening. How had his Mackenzie managed to fit in there? Nikhil tried and couldn't even get one leg in.
"Find something, Squad Leader?"
Nikhil turned to find Treyvon standing at the cave's entrance. "No, General, just checking something." Nikhil moved toward the entrance. "This area is clear."
"This is where the humans were kept," Treyvon told him.
"I know."
"How? I didn't think you made it this deep into the mine."
"I didn't. Mackenzie described it to me." The sound of the General's comm beeping stopped Nikhil from saying more.
"Rayner."
"We found it General," Gryf's voice came over the comm.
"Where?" Treyvon demanded.
"In the main Zaludian cave,” Gryf told him tensely. “You're going to want to see this."
"On my way."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Treyvon watched as Gryf connected their interface device to the Zaludian computer sending the transmissions. They'd found no one in the mine and no evidence that anyone had been there since they'd left. All the seals and alarms were still intact and armed.
"Was it preprogrammed, Gryf?" Treyvon asked.
"No. This unit received a signal yesterday telling it to start transmitting that signal. It was also instructed not to try to hide or encode the transmission."
"They wanted us to discover it," Treyvon said thoughtfully, looking at the unit.
"I believe so," Gryf agreed.
"Why? For what purpose? It wasn't a trap," Treyvon looked around the room, "there's no one here." Treyvon's comm went off again. "Rayner!"
"General, this is Warrior Gulzar."
"What is it, Gulzar?" Treyvon asked impatiently, his mind on other things.
"General, I wanted to inform you that the resupply ship is on its final approach."
"What? Why would you contact me about that?" Treyvon demanded.
"I... General, you ordered that you be informed immediately of all ships coming near Pontus."
"Yes, but..." Treyvon trailed off and began to frown. He'd just talked to Darzi the Captain of the Fenton, last night. Darzi was an old friend and had contacted him to let him know they'd gotten delayed leaving Crurn and would be late arriving. That wasn't the Fenton approaching! "Notify the Defender and put the base on high alert!"
"General?" Gulzar questioned.
"That's not the Fenton! Get everyone notified. Now!" As Treyvon gave the order, he heard the first explosion come over the comm. "Gulzar!" When all he received was static, he snapped his comm closed. "Fuck! I want everyone back to the transports! Now!"
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Mac couldn't help but smile as one by one the guys allowed Paul to shave and cut their hair. It was amazing to see the difference it made in them. Each one came out standing a little straighter, their shoulders thrown back a little farther. They were rediscovering who they once were.
"They look good, don't they?" Mac said smiling at Jen.
"They do, but..."
"But what?" Mac asked.
"Why are those Kaliszians staring at them like they have two heads?"
"What?" Mac's eyes flew to where Onp and Nroa were standing by the doors and saw Jen wasn't wrong. The Kaliszians were staring at the guys with such a look of shock and horror that she almost laughed. She needed to explain to them what was happening and why.
"For a Kaliszian, the ultimate punishment is to have their hair cut off. It removes their Suja beads, removing their identity. It is reserved for only the most abhorrent of offenses."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You should have seen Nikhil's reaction when I first got here and commented that mine was such a mess that I should just cut it."
"Not good I take it."
"No. Not good at all. I'd better explain to Onp and Nroa that this is normal for humans. That the guys aren't being punished for something." Giving Jen's arm a squeeze, she rose and crossed the room.
That's when all hell broke loose.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Nikhil didn't bother to sit as
the transport shot off the ground in a maneuver typically reserved for only dire combat conditions. His fingers tightened around the structural beam that was constructed from the strongest metal the universes had to offer, leaving deep depressions.
"Who?" Nikhil fired the question at his General and friend.
"I don't know," Treyvon responded angrily. "Or why. Defender! What have you got?"
"General, it's a Zaludian ship, heavily armed."
"How the fuck did it get past you?!!"
"They had all the proper codes and passwords, General, including a false visual projection that only dropped when they armed their weapons."
"Where are they attacking?" Treyvon demanded.
"The base, General."
"Return fire!" he ordered.
"They've already landed within the compound, General. If I fire now, I will destroy the base!"
"Fuck!" Treyvon turned to the pilot, "Get us there! Now!"
"Yes, General!" the pilot responded.
"Why would the Zaludians attack?" Gryf questioned over the roar of the engines. "We know they've been here now. It's not like they can resume mining."
"They want something." Treyvon's mind was racing, narrowing down all the possibilities and he didn't like the few that remained. He looked to Nikhil.
"Mackenzie," Nikhil said through stiff lips. "They had planned on selling her to a Pleasure House."
"True," Gryf said, "and while her uniqueness would have brought a high price, it doesn't warrant this level of attack."
"It might if she were breeding compatible with the Tornians," Treyvon told him quietly.
"What?!!" Nikhil moved toward Treyvon. "What are you saying?!!"
"The female, the one that was with Emperor Vasteri when he crashed, was similar in size and skin tone to your Mackenzie, Nikhil."
"She's human?" Nikhil asked.
"I don't know for sure. Vasteri stayed very close to her, and I only interacted with her for a short time. Vasteri claimed her as his Empress," Treyvon informed him.
"That still doesn't mean..." Gryf started.
"I've heard a rumor that she is with offspring," Treyvon said, "which means..."
"That the Tornians will be searching for more like her," Nikhil responded.
"Yes," Treyvon nodded.
"You think the Tornians are behind this?" Gryf questioned in obvious disbelief.
"No. The Tornians are an honorable race. If they were going to attack, they would attack, not send Zaludians. But that doesn't mean the Zaludians don't see an opportunity here. If Mackenzie was truly breeding compatible with the Tornians then..."
"Then she would be the most valuable female in the universe and there are those in the Tornian Empire that would pay whatever was asked to obtain her," Nikhil finished through clenched teeth.
"Yes," Treyvon agreed.
"How long ago did you hear this rumor about the Empress?" Nikhil demanded.
"Right before we discovered the humans."
"And you didn't tell me?!!" Nikhil growled threateningly, his hands fisting. "When you learned Mackenzie was my True Mate and that there might be a threat against her?"
"There was no threat. It hasn't been confirmed yet that the Empress is with offspring or even that she is human! Nikhil! Do you really think I would knowingly allow harm to come to the first True Mate the Kaliszian Empire has seen in over five-hundred years, let alone yours?!!"
Nikhil knew Treyvon; he was an honorable male that Nikhil had always admired and felt fortunate to call him friend. He was also loyal to his warriors and people, always putting them before his own needs. He would never knowingly allow Nikhil's Ashe to be harmed. He forced himself to calm. "No. You of all males would never allow a female to be harmed."
"We won't let them take her, Nikhil," Treyvon told him. "She is yours."
"She is," Nikhil agreed, reaching up to touch the empty braid that had once held his Ashe and True Mate beads. Goddess, how he wished he wore Mackenzie's so he would know if she were okay."
"The base is in sight, General," the pilot informed them, and all eyes looked on in horror at the smoke and flames that were rising from the survivors’ area.
"Goddess," Gryf whispered."
"Battle Stations!" Treyvon ordered.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
The first explosion knocked Mac off her feet as she crossed the room to talk to Onp and Nroa. The second had her curling up into a ball, trying to protect herself from all the flying debris as the outer wall of the room was blown out.
Carefully, Mac moved to sit up and took in the devastation that only moments ago had been a room full of people. The exterior wall that had opened into a small, walled area was gone, and those further out were only rubble. As the smoke and dust began to clear, she saw a ship was landing.
"Mackenzie!" Onp suddenly materialized at her side. "Are you injured?"
"I... I don't think so," she said slightly dazed trying to take in all the destruction she was seeing. "What's going on?"
"Then come, we must get you out of here!" He told her, ignoring her question as he pulled her to her feet.
"Get me out?" she asked looking around in horror at the mangled bodies.
"Yes. We are under attack! We must get you to safety."
"No, we need to help the injured." She jerked her arm out of his hold, her eyes frantically searching where Jen had been. All she found was turned over cots. "Jen!" she screamed starting to run across the room. "Where are you?!!"
"Mackenzie, no!" Onp shouted, knocking her down when blaster fire suddenly filled the room. Rolling, he pulled his blaster and returned fire. "Go!" he ordered still firing. "Find some place to hide until we can get you out of here."
Mac immediately obeyed, crawling toward where she'd last seen Jen, ignoring the glass that was cutting into her skin.
"Jen!" she screamed. "Jen!"
"Over here," a faint voice called back.
"Jen!" she called out again moving toward the voice. "I'm coming, Jen"
Mac had just moved another cot out of her way to find Jen huddled back in a corner when she saw Jen's eyes widen in fear before she screamed out a warning. "Mac! Behind you!"
Mac swung around and screamed out in horror at the Zaludian moving toward her. Oh my God! Her mind screamed. It's the Zaludians! She couldn't let them take her! She'd never survive it again! She crab-crawled back away from him as fast as she could, but she didn't get far before the Zaludian grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the floor.
Mac clawed at the hand holding her but only managed to shred her fingers on the spiked glove covering it. Her mind screamed for Nikhil as the room began to dim and darkness started to invade her vision.
"No!" Mac barely heard the enraged scream, but she was suddenly dropped and she sucked in a much-needed breath. Rolling over, she meant to run, but instead, she froze when she saw Jen on the Zaludian's back, stabbing him repeatedly with one of Nikhil's blades.
The Zaludian reared back in pain, frantically reaching behind him to pull Jen away before throwing her against the wall. Her head hit with a sickening thud, and she collapsed into a boneless heap on the floor.
"Jen!" Mac screamed, but the Zaludian was on her again, this time swinging his fist and Mac's world went black.
Chapter Seventeen
The transport had barely touched down behind the Zaludian ship before Nikhil had opened the hatch, a blaster in one hand, his sword in the other. He jumped out and was running toward the survivors’ area. They'd all heard the comms from Onp and Nroa calling for reinforcements, saying they were under direct attack and taking heavy casualties. He prayed to the Goddess that his Mackenzie wasn't one of them.
More Zaludians poured out of their ship trying to slow them down, but Nikhil just carved a path through them, never more thankful for his massive size and strength. Any that got close, he ended with his sword. Those further away he cut down with his blaster. No one was stopping him from getting to his Mackenzie's side.
He had
just reached what had been the exterior wall of the building when he heard his Mackenzie's scream and saw a Zaludian strike her in the face, the sharp spikes of his gloves shredding her delicate, pale skin.
"No!" his roar was filled with all the rage and pain that filled his soul as he watched her head snap back. He fired at the Zaludian, sending him to meet Daco, then reaching his Mackenzie's side dropped his weapons, catching her before she hit the ground.
"Mackenzie!" he whispered as her ravaged face fell back over his arm. He didn't notice how Onp, Nroa, Gryf, and Treyvon instantly formed a protective circle around them. Didn't notice that the human males and Nekeoks were fighting the Zaludians with anything they could find. His entire focus was on his Mackenzie.
"Get her to Luol!" Treyvon ordered. "Onp, Nroa, Gryf, clear a path."
"General, the base is not secure," Gryf informed him.
"Which is why Onp and Nroa will accompany Nikhil and make sure he and his Ashe get to medical. Gryf, you will remain with me, and we will finish eradicating this filth from our planet."
"Agreed, General," Gryf responded, and he started clearing the path to what had once been the entrance to the area.
Nikhil swept Mackenzie up in his arms and relied on those he most trusted to protect them both on their way to medical. "Hold on, Little One," he whispered.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"Hold on, Little One..."
The words whispered through her mind, and her soul reached out for them. She needed them, him to survive, but he and the words faded away.
"Nikhil!" she cried out, but Nikhil didn't respond. Someone else did.
"Why do you call out for the one you thought to refuse?" a melodic voice questioned.
Mac spun around to find the most stunningly, beautiful woman she had ever seen standing just a short distance behind her, and instinctively she knew she was the Goddess.
"What?" she questioned.
"Why do you call out for the male you thought to refuse?" she asked again.
"I never refused Nikhil!"
"You thought to refuse his True Mate bead. It is the same as refusing him."
"It is not the same! This,” she grabbed the strand of hair holding the bead, "has nothing to do with what I feel for Nikhil!"
"Then I will remove it." The Goddess reached out and was shocked when her hand was slapped away.