Shamara

by Catherine Spangler

  A deep male voice, nagging at him, skirting the edge of his consciousness, and aggravating the blazing hells out of him. "Go away," he muttered, too exhausted to open his eyes.

  "Not going to happen, san Ranul," said another male voice. "Can't have you laying down on the job." Familiar, and cocky. He knew that voice.…He felt a sharp sting in his neck, followed by a rush of adrenaline through his body. Even then, he battled the fog, had to force his eyes open. Two figures above him blurred then came into focus. McKnight and Travers.

  He stared at them, shook his head to clear it. "Where am I?"

  "I think the better question would be where are we?" Sabin answered. "We did it!"

  Jarek tried to sit up. The room seemed to spin. "Don't get up yet," Chase pressed him back down.

  Jarek realized he was in the medical lab, surrounded by an array of equipment. What was going on? Something important nagged at the edge of his memory. "Was I wounded?"

  Chase shook his head. "I'm not sure what happened to you."

  Full recollection burst into Jarek's mind with alarming clarity. "The sphere!" He sat up, ignoring Chase's attempts to restrain him. "Eirene! Where is she? What happened?"

  The dizziness increased. He gripped the edge of the table until it receded somewhat. His head pounded like it had been inside a rocket coil, and he was very weak. "Tell me what the hell happened. Where's Eirene?"

  Chase and Sabin exchanged glances. "We made it through the wormhole," Sabin said. "You were right. We're in an uncharted part of the galaxy."

  Fierce elation flared at the news, triumph welling inside Jarek. They'd found shamara! But the sense of victory quickly faded, eclipsed by concern for Eirene. “Tell me what happened.”

  "We came into the bay to check on you, and found the two of you unconscious on the floor," Chase explained. "The sphere continued to operate on its own until we exited the wormhole, and then it shut down and closed back up. Astounding."

  "Forget that damned sphere," Jarek said, panic beginning to take hold. "Where is Eirene?"

  Chase clasped his shoulder, expression troubled. "She's on the other side of the screen."

  "I have to see her." Jarek slid off the table, pitching forward as his legs collapsed. Sabin and Chase caught him and hefted him up. His legs were like rubber, unsteady and weak. That didn't matter. Nothing mattered but Eirene. "Take me to her."

  "She's not conscious," Chase said. "You need to lie back down."

  "Let me go," Jarek growled, wrenching free. He stumbled forward ripping away the electrodes attached to his chest and the IV strips in his arm. He lunged for the screen. "Eirene!"

  "She's comatose," Chase tried explain, grabbing his arm again. "She's not responding."

  Jarek whirled to face him. "No one is going to keep me from her. Take your hands off me. Now."

  Chase stared at him a moment, then released him. Jarek staggered around, and shoved the screen to the side. It crashed to the floor. Eirene lay on a table, as white and still as death. Equipment surrounded her, monitors flashing rows of data. None of it was decipherable to Jarek. But he didn't need to be able to read it to know she wasn't emanating the familiar energy pattern.

  "Eirene!" he cried, lurching to the table, gathering her into his arms. She was cool, her breathing very faint. No life force radiated from her—no Eirene. Fear rushed through him, left him sick and shaking. "What's wrong with her?" he demanded of Chase. "Why can't you help her?"

  "I've tried everything in my power. She's nonresponsive," Chase said quietly. "The equipment indicates minimal brain activity. I'm sorry."

  "No!" Jarek roared, denial raging through him. He held her tightly, cradling her against him. "Eirene, you can't leave me!" He listened for the whispering of her life force. He heard nothing but the blasted equipment. Desperation flooded his soul.

  Refusing to give up, he reached for her mentally. You did it, little one. You controlled the energy and activated the sphere, and we made it through the wormhole. You didn't let me down. I'm so proud of you. Don't leave me now. He buried his face against her hair, prayed for another miracle. You can't leave me, Eirene. I need you too much.

  Still no flare of energy, no sign of life, as if the spirit had departed, leaving a fading physical body. No! he screamed inside, anguish racking him.

  Eirene, stay! Stay here with me. I know I never gave you the words, but I love you. I want you to become my mate, for us to be together always. You're brave and beautiful, with a heart as big as Elysia's sun.

  He halted, tears tracking down his face, grief shredding his soul. We did it, sweetness. We're in a new world. We're free now, and the best is yet to come. You can't go. I love you. I love you.…

  He rocked her, beyond words, beyond hope. He didn't know how long he stayed there, only that he couldn't bear to let her go. He ignored Chase’s and Sabin’s attempts to get him to lie down. Time ceased to exist. He was aware only of Eirene's fragile body cradled in his arms, of her utter stillness. I love you, he told her, over and over.

  He almost missed the faint stirring. A slight sensation of energy touched his mind, pulling him from his litany. He felt a movement against him, heard the intake of air. He drew back, too stunned to even comprehend the miracle occurring.

  Clear blue eyes stared back at him, a sea of tranquility and redemption. "Jarek," she whispered, her voice so faint, he almost couldn't hear her.

  Thank you, Spirit! "It’s about time you woke up." His heart was beating so hard, he thought it might burst through his chest. Brushing the tangled mass of hair back from her face, he cupped her cheek. "Have I told you that I love you?"

  A smile tugged at her lips. She tried to raise her hand toward him. He took it and pressed a kiss against it. "I think so," she said softly. "I kept hearing those words. They pulled me back to you."

  "I've got news for you, lady. You're never leaving me again. I won't let you. I love you too much."

  "That's good," she murmured. "Because I love you, too."

  Jarek knew that as long as he lived, he would thank Spirit every single day for this miracle. For all the miracles. He didn’t know exactly where they were in the galaxy, but he knew they were away from the Controllers.

  At long last, they had found shamara.

  Epilogue

  "You're not cooperating, Moriah," Chase chided. "Come on. You can push harder than this."

  "Oh, really? Why don't you try shoving a cantafruit up your nose? See how you like that, Doctor."

  He sat back on his stool and shrugged, humor dancing in his eyes. "We can stay here all cycle, if you insist. I don't have any other patients to attend."

  "I'm not going through this for an entire cycle! I want this baby out, and I want it out now!"

  "Chase, stop upsetting Moriah," Nessa scolded. "She's in a lot of discomfort, and having a baby is very difficult."

  "I'm aware of that, my love," he said dryly.

  Eirene smiled to herself. She had come to care deeply for these people. They were like a large family, struggling together to forge a path in a strange, unknown world. Now they were sharing an extraordinary event. She couldn't imagine anything more special than the very first birth of a baby in their new settlement.

  Sabin squeezed Moriah’s hand. "Try to relax and do what Chase asks."

  "I'm not ever listening to a man again," she retorted, then tensed. "Oh, Spirit, here comes another contraction."

  "Let me help you," Eirene said, stepping closer. "Will you?"

  "Oh, yes. Lay it on me."

  Eirene placed her hands on Moriah's shoulders. She felt confident, no longer harboring any fears about using her powers. Nessa moved beside her, ready to help with any energy overflow. She had proven amazingly adept at manipulating energy, and often assisted when Eirene was doing energy work.

  In fact, they had discovered that most Shielders had that capability. They could only speculate that the same genetic makeup giving Shielders their innate mind shields and telepathic abilities also enhanced their ability
to channel energy.

  Now Eirene directed healing and calming energies into Moriah, stimulating her body's natural pain suppressants, and helping her to relax through the contractions.

  "I can do this," Moriah muttered, gripping Sabin's hand and trembling with her efforts to bring forth the baby.

  "You're doing great, sweetheart," he told her. "I love you."

  "The baby is almost here," Chase announced. "One more push, Mori. That all we need."

  Moments later, Alyssa Janaye came into the universe. The beauty and spirituality of the birth touched Eirene deeply. She watched Sabin and Moriah cooing over the baby, tears in her eyes.

  After the baby had been cleaned and bundled up, Eirene sent Jarek a mental message, and he entered the room. "I hear congratulations are in order." He walked to the birthing bed and leaned down to see the baby. "She’s incredible. You did well, Mori." He kissed Moriah’s cheek and turned to slap Sabin on the back. "Thank Spirit she takes after her mother instead of you."

  "Can’t argue with that," Sabin said, grinning widely. His pride and excitement practically lit up the chamber.

  "May I take her?" Jarek asked. Moriah nodded and placed the infant in his arms. He cradled her gently in his large hands, his expression so tender, Eirene felt a catch in her throat.

  "Welcome, Alyssa," he told the baby. "You are the first Shielder to be born in Shamara, and the first to be born into freedom in over a hundred cycles. Cherish that freedom, little Alyssa, fight for it always."

  The baby stared back at him wonderingly, her golden eyes alert and totally unafraid. He smiled at her. "You're going to be just as beautiful as your mother. Come meet the rest of our family. They've been waiting for you." He tucked the baby into one arm and took Eirene's hand. "We'll bring her right back," he promised Moriah and Sabin.

  Nessa followed them outside. A large group of people had gathered, waiting for news. When they saw Jarek with the baby, they surged forward eagerly. Ranie, who'd been perched on Raven's shoulder, chattered loudly and leaped down, scampering to Jarek. Eirene intercepted her before she could climb his leg.

  An emotional murmur swept through the crowd as Jarek held the baby aloft for all to see. "Here she is—Alyssa Janaye dan Sabin, our first baby born in Shamara. Spirit willing that there will be many more babies to come, and that they always know peace and freedom."

  A cheer rose from the crowd. "Yes!" Blake whooped, at the front of the group, as usual.

  Eirene watched her handsome mate, pride and love burning fiercely inside her. He was an amazing leader, commanding respect, yet able to inspire greatness in others. His sheer determination and strength of character had gotten them to Shamara. He'd helped plan and build the colony, had made it possible for hundreds of Shielders to start new lives here, with more arriving almost every cycle. They had a lot of work left to do, but Jarek would ensure it got done.

  Raven, Chase and Nessa's oldest daughter, squeezed through the crowd to get a closer look at Alyssa, followed by her brother, Brand. Her dark eyes glowing, she fussed over the baby. "Look, Brand. Isn't she pretty?"

  "Yeah," twelve-year-old Brand muttered, trying not to act too impressed, although he radiated excitement. They all did, Eirene thought. Here on Shamara, the birth of a baby was truly a blessed event, instead of the burden it would have been in the old quadrant. Jarek gave Alyssa to Nessa, and she took the baby back to her parents.

  Pulling Eirene into a tight embrace, he whispered, "One day we'll have children of our own."

  She hugged him back, despite Ranie’s indignant squeal. It never ceased to amaze her how much she loved him, how much that love seemed to grow every single cycle. Thank Spirit that fate had brought them together.

  Jarek turned to his niece and nephew. "Be sure to tell Lady Meris about baby Alyssa. And tell her Eirene and I will join her for the evening meal." He took Ranie from Eirene. "Here, take this little monster with you."

  "Sure." Brand took Ranie, carrying her upside down, a position she didn't seem to mind. Life on Shamara was good for lanraxes. Raven and Brand headed toward their grandmother's quarters. Eirene got along very well with Lady Meris and was glad Jarek’s mother had weathered the trip through the wormhole.

  The planet on which they had settled was large, with ample room for every known Shielder, and still not intrude on the Enhancer colony sharing the planet with them. Eirene had been delighted to find more of her own kind. The Enhancers had been more than generous in allowing the Shielders to settle here.

  "I think this calls for a celebration," Blake declared. The excited crowd agreed and dispersed back toward the two main halls, where they would celebrate Alyssa's arrival well into the evening hours.

  "You two coming?" Blake called over his shoulder.

  "We'll be there in a while," Jarek hedged.

  "Yeah, right." Blake shook his head, laughing.

  Jarek twined his hand with Eirene's and tugged her toward the lake. They had a favorite spot there, beneath a huge tree near the water. The tree's branches bowed to the ground, its thick foliage giving them privacy, their own personal shamara.

  "It's a shame Celie and Janaye weren't here," Eirene commented. "I know Moriah wanted them present for the birth."

  "Mori didn't even plan on delivering here," Jarek reminded her. "She thought she had time to get back to Risa."

  "That's true. I hope she's not too disappointed."

  "I don't think so." He pulled her inside the alcove formed by the tree's branches. "Did I tell you Gunnar is arriving tomorrow with more settlers?"

  The nearby Enhancers had been willing to help the Shielders operate the spheres so they could evacuate everyone to Shamara, the most obvious name to give the colony. Only one Enhancer was needed for each trip, because Shielders could do the grounding. They'd found that one Enhancer and four Shielders were sufficient to safely operate a sphere. After that discovery, they had returned to Aldon to retrieve the other six spheres and begun transporting Shielders through the wormhole as quickly as possible.

  When the Leors learned the areas around Shamara had vast natural veins of iridon, they offered their huge ships to transport the Shielders in return for the rare ore, and the evacuation progressed at a much faster pace.

  "More settlers," Eirene murmured, wrapping her arms around her mate. "Where are we going to put them? The lodges are full."

  "I'm sure we'll make room." Jarek stroked her hair, slid his hand along her face. "We'll build more shelters."

  "It will be fun to see Lani. Do you think she'll be dressed in a blue-feathered loincloth, like she was when we visited her and Gunnar on their ship?"

  Jarek laughed. "That was pretty interesting, wasn't it? Lani has some nice…assets."

  "What?" Eirene said in mock indignation. "I am shocked. Why were you looking at those assets?"

  "Sweetness, how could I miss them?" He began opening her tunic. "They're not nearly as nice as yours, though."

  "They're not?" she asked, totally distracted as he slid his hand inside and captured tender flesh. It seemed that every time he touched her, she melted into a senseless mass.

  That's as it should be, he channeled, all male smugness.

  Stay out of my mind unless you're invited.

  I can't help myself. When you look at me with those gorgeous blue eyes, all soft and suggestive, I have to know if you want me as badly as I want you.

  He was outrageous, far more playful and quick to laughter than he'd ever been in the other quadrant. And far too potent. And what do you discover when you so rudely invade my mind? she asked teasingly, pressing a kiss to his mouth.

  That you want me, all right. You're crazy about me.

  He deepened the kiss, and heat spread through her body. But two could play at that game, and she launched her own sensual assault. You’re crazy about me too, she managed to transmit, before coherent thought escaped them both.

  Much later, as they lay together on the soft grass, with the gentle breeze rustling the tree branches, she remembered
Phylo's last words to her: Do not discount the power of love. Love is the true essence of the One, and the greatest force in all the universe.

  She thought of the love that had created Sabin and Moriah's baby. The love that had motivated Jarek to lead his people here; had made her willing to sacrifice her life for his dream. Then his love had pulled her back from the brink of oblivion.

  Phylos had been right. Love was the greatest force of all. And it had brought them a most precious gift.

  Shamara.

  * * * * * *

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  Touched by Darkness

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  Shielder

  Shadower

  Shamara

  Shadow Crossing

  Shadow Fires

  Street Corners and Halos, Demon’s Delight Anthology

  Excerpt from Shadow Crossing

  Book Four in the Shielder Series

  Coming October 2014

  Celie found the pad for the start-up sequences and breathed a sigh of relief when the powerful engines roared to life at her keyed command. At least the lockout codes weren't activated. The ship shuddered with another hit. She prayed their assailants' neutron cannon wasn't fully charged yet.