by S. E. Smith
Jordan chuckled. “I know. Dagger says the same thing. It is like listening to music, only I see it,” she confessed. “Each part is a piece of a puzzle and when it all comes together, I finally get to see the whole picture. I love the challenge and seeing the symmetry of lines creating data which tells a story.”
Jesse shook her head. “You are such a nerd,” she teased.
“I know,” Jordan admitted. “I’ll be out in a little bit. I need to finish compiling this latest lot of data.”
“Okay. I’ll fix you something to eat. You’ve been in here all morning. You probably didn’t even eat breakfast this morning either,” Jesse chided.
“Don’t tell Dagger,” Jordan murmured.
“Don’t tell me what?” a deep voice demanded.
Jesse turned and grimaced. “Uh-oh! Busted. I’ll be in the kitchen,” she muttered.
Jordan bit her lip and managed to enter two more commands before she felt her chair being turned. Her large eyes looked straight into those of the man kneeling in front of her. Her gaze softened when she saw the worry in his eyes.
“I’m fine,” she said.
She tilted her head to rest her cheek against the warm palm that cupped it. Dagger leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. She loved the way his thumb gently caressed her cheek.
“When Hunter and Razor asked me if I would object to you helping them, I said no,” he began.
Jordan’s lips twisted into a wry smile. “Only because you knew I’d do it anyway,” she softly retorted.
Dagger sighed. “Yes, you would have done it anyway. I worry about you,” he said.
Jordan’s heart melted at the expression in his eyes. Her hands rose to cup his face and she leaned in and kissed him. His lips parted when she traced them with her tongue. Deepening the kiss, she poured her love for him into every touch, every breath before she reluctantly ended the caress.
“I love you, Dagger. You and our daughter, Helena, are my life,” Jordan murmured, brushing another kiss against his lips.
“You are an amazing woman and I love you very much. I want you to take care of yourself more,” Dagger said, his voice growing deeper with the depth of his emotion.
Jordan glanced over her shoulder at the screens. “I’m so close, Dagger. I can feel it,” she said, turning back to look at him with a pleading expression. “I can’t give up on them.”
Dagger drew in a deep breath and stood up, pulling her with him. Jordan wrapped her arms around his waist and held onto him as if she would never let him go. After a moment, he rubbed his chin against her soft brown hair.
“Ten minutes, then take a break to eat. I will take care of Helena when she wakes up. Find them, so we can have you back,” he murmured.
Tears burned the back of Jordan’s eyes. “You will always have me, Dagger,” she promised.
“Ten minutes, then food,” Dagger insisted, releasing her.
Jordan grimaced. “And the bathroom,” she laughed.
Jordan watched Dagger step out of the electronics room, which was set up at Hunter and Jesse’s house specifically for her. Razor had suggested installing the computer system at their own home, but Jordan had declined. She knew herself well enough to know that she needed to be away from easy access to such an elaborate setup if she was to maintain her sanity.
Sinking back down into her seat, she scanned the data coming in. Her heart sped up when the filters she had programmed into the software she had designed suddenly began to go crazy. Her fingers flew over the keyboard again, pulling the information from one screen to another and combining them.
“Prymorus.” Jordan’s fingers touched on a program to identify the man’s voice.
Voice recognition at ninety-nine percent: Deppar Achler, Waxian mercenary.
“You’ve found him?” Prymorus’s voice demanded.
“Not yet. I suspect since his body hasn’t turned up yet, that he is still alive.”
“You suspect? How did you lose the Trivator in the first place when he couldn’t even walk?”
“He had help. We discovered how they were able to get him out of the building. He is still on the Spaceport. I have guards searching every section. No transports are allowed to leave without a thorough search. We will find him and those who helped him.”
“I will be arriving in four days. Find him, Deppar.”
“I will, brother.”
“Spaceport…. Where are you? Where are you?” Jordan muttered, her fingers trying to find the location of the signal.
The dot on the top center screen moved across the star charts, until it slowed and stopped. Jordan’s hand shook slightly as memories flooded her mind from another time when she had done this, the time she had finally found Dagger. She turned her focus toward the screen in front of her. A detailed image of the Spaceport the two men had been talking about appeared on the screen. Tears burned her eyes when she saw the location.
“Jordan, time’s up,” Dagger said behind her. “Jesse has lunch….”
Jordan heard Dagger’s voice fade as he caught a glimpse of the screen. She slowly turned. His face was pale but composed.
“You found something,” Dagger said.
Jordan pursed her lips together and nodded. Drawing in a deep breath, she stepped closer to Dagger. She needed to feel his warmth again.
“Yes. I can’t be completely sure it is Edge, but… but, I’m ninety-nine percent sure,” she whispered, laying her cheek against his broad chest.
“That is the Waxian home planet,” Dagger said.
Jordan tilted her head back and nodded again. “I know. The Spaceport was built around its moon,” she replied.
Dagger tore his gaze from the screen to look down at her with a frown. “Are you sure he is there?” he asked.
Jordan looked over her shoulder at the screens. “I heard Prymorus asking his half-brother about a Trivator who had been captured. Dagger….” Jordan turned and looked back up at her mate. “They are looking for him. He has escaped. Deppar Achler said the Trivator had help.”
“Help,” Dagger replied, startled. He looked back at the screen. “Who could have helped him that far into Waxian territory?”
“I don’t know. Maybe Razor or Hunter may know,” Jordan replied.
“I’ll contact them while you eat,” he said, staring at the screens.
Jordan laughed. “Bathroom first. I’ve really got to go,” she admitted with a grimace.
“Bathroom, then food. I’m sure Hunter and Razor will want to talk to you,” Dagger murmured, stepping to the side so Jordan could pass him.
His attention remained locked on the screens even as he pressed the activation button on the communicator clipped to his ear. He stepped closer to the screens, staring down at the Spaceport. It was in one of the most hostile star systems known to the Alliance.
“This is Hunter.”
“Hunter, Jordan found something. Razor and you may want to see this,” Dagger said.
“I’ll contact Razor, and we’ll be there in half an hour,” Hunter replied.
“I’ll let Jordan know,” Dagger said, ending the call.
A shudder ran through his body and he sat down in the chair. Memories of his time in captivity flashbacked through his mind. Sweat beaded on his brow and he clenched his fists as he fought the flashbacks. The knowledge that Edge had probably suffered the same conditions as he or worse hit him hard. He should have stayed with him. He shouldn’t have left him defenseless.
“Dagger,” Jordan’s voice pulled him back from the precipice that he still found himself teetering on at times. “Dagger, come sit with me.”
Dagger took a deep breath before he stood up. Stepping away from the monitors, he reached for Jordan’s hand. She wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned against him.
“He escaped. He isn’t alone like you were,” she quietly said.
Dagger’s arm tightened around her. “I was never alone, Jordan. You were always there with me,” he murmured.
&n
bsp; Chapter Twelve
You’ve got a shadow on your tail, Lina. Seven o’clock,” Gail murmured into the headset.
“Turning left at the parts cart,” Lina replied.
Lina wanted to growl in frustration. This trip had been fraught with one hazardous situation after another. They had scavenged no food, no supplies, absolutely nothing! Lina had all but given up when a group of Waxian guards had swept into the market. Gail and she had been forced to split up at one point and hadn’t yet been able to safely reconnect.
She was thankful Gail had found her again. Turning just past the cart containing junk parts salvaged from space, she headed down a long alley that cut over to the next street. She was almost to the end when two guards stepped into the alley and cut her off.
Turning on her heel, she started to retrace her steps when another guard blocked her way. Lina took a step back and stopped. She was trapped. Her only hope now was that they would just bypass her.
Lowering her head, she picked at the light blue fabric covering her pants. The material looked like a skirt but had slits in it that separated in case she needed to run or climb. She slid her hand down to her side as the sound of their footsteps drew closer.
She wrapped her fingers around the butt of the laser pistol strapped to her thigh. Through the eye holes cut in the textured mask, she could see a pair of worn black boots. She lifted one gloved hand to pull the hood of her cloak lower. Coarse threads of white hung down over her left breast. Maybe she should have chosen one of the hairy men as her costume today instead of that of a Driserian woman.
“You are pretty quick,” the guard who had been following her stated.
Lina kept her head down. Seeing as she could only understand what they were saying, but not respond in their language, she decided pretending to be mute might be her best option at the moment. She swallowed when she saw another pair of boots stop in front of her.
This isn’t going to be good, she thought.
“We’ve been ordered to search every person on this Spaceport. Any that resist will find themselves imprisoned—or worse,” the guard in front of her stated.
Lina wanted to roll her eyes when the other two guards laughed. Really? Like she hadn’t heard that before back on Earth. Some males were pigs no matter where they lived in the universe.
“Let’s get a look at what we are about to have fun with,” the guard on her right said, reaching out to grab her arm.
Left with little choice, Lina pulled her gun and fired it at the man on her left while kicking her right foot out and connecting with the crotch of the man standing in front of her. She then turned into the male who had grabbed her arm.
This one was a little more with it. He dropped his hand down and wrapped it around her left wrist, preventing her from bringing around the laser pistol.
Lina stepped into the man and kneed him in the crotch. His fingers nearly crushed her wrists when he tightened them in reaction to his pain. Despite her own pain, she tilted her head back and then slammed her forehead against his nose. His loud groan filled the alley. He released her wrists and fell backwards.
A searing fire hit her side, and Lina twisted and jerked back several feet. Her back struck the wall behind her. Lifting her pistol, she fired a round into the center of the shooter’s chest.
She was just about to do the same to the man she had kicked when he slammed into her. Pain exploded through her. He pulled her arm back and smashed it against the wall. The pistol fell from her hand.
She choked as the man held his beefy forearm against her throat. Her right hand slammed into his side with as much force as she could muster, but he barely reacted. Her fingers trembled as dark spots began to blur her vision.
“What are you? You aren’t a Driserian,” the man snarled.
He released her right arm, reached up, and ripped off her wig and mask. Shock registered on his face.
“I’m… your… worst… fucking… nightmare,” Lina gasped, pulling his pistol free from its holster at his side and shooting him.
She leaned against the wall, gasping for air. The male she had kneed was scrambling to his feet. As if in slow motion, she saw him raise his pistol and point it at her. Lina fought to raise hers first. She didn’t have to bother. A large black hole appeared between the man’s eyes before he fell backwards, his pistol sliding across the alley.
“Shit! I tried to get to you sooner, but there were a couple of merchants in my way,” Gail said, running up to her. “Are you okay?”
Lina leaned her head back against the wall and felt her side. She grimaced when she felt warm wetness spreading on her clothes. Blinking at Gail, she gave the other woman a wry smile.
“I’ve had better days,” she admitted in a terse voice. "I need you to help me put the mask and wig back on.”
Gail turned and looked down at where Lina was holding her side. Bright red blood stained her hand. She tried to grin when Gail released a long string of unfamiliar expletives.
“That’s a good one. I’ll have to… try to remember it,” Lina joked before she gritted teeth. “Damn, but this hurts as bad as a bullet.”
“Just… Shut up,” Gail ordered, ripping a strip of material from her own outfit and folding it. “You do know that Edge is going to go ballistic when he sees you covered in blood, don’t you?”
Lina chuckled before she winced in pain. She held herself still while Gail tried to stem the flow of blood. Once the other woman had done what she could in the short amount of time they had, they decided to hide as much of Lina’s face as they could. Gail shoved the mask and wig into her pocket.
Lina leaned heavily on Gail when the other woman wrapped her arm around her. Once they reached the end of the alley, Gail murmured to take it slow and easy. Lina couldn’t help the strained chuckle that slipped out.
“We’re just two old ladies out for a Sunday stroll in the park,” she whimpered.
“Shut up, Lina, or I swear I’ll leave your ass here,” Gail ordered under her breath.
By the time they made it back to the entrance of their underground hideout, Lina was ready for Gail to leave her on the side of the lane. Given how weak she felt, she knew she had lost a lot of blood. Her biggest fear was that she might have left a blood trail behind. The last thing she wanted to do was create a neon sign saying ‘here we are’.
“Are you sure there is no blood?” Lina asked for the hundredth time.
Gail glanced behind her. “I’m positive. I can go back and make sure if you want,” she replied.
Lina shook her head. “No, I think… we’ve taken enough chances today,” she whispered.
She released a sigh when Gail opened the door to the grate. Gail helped her inside before closing it. They made sure no one else was around before Gail opened the second door. Peering inside, Gail wrapped an arm around Lina’s waist.
“Not much farther, Lina,” Gail said.
Lina wanted to laugh, but at the moment, she didn’t think she had the strength. The ride down in the lift seemed to take forever. She was a bit worried when she realized that she couldn’t lift her head.
“I’ve ruined Mechelle’s outfit,” Lina observed, staring down at the long red streak on her right side. It was easier to look down than to try to lift her head. “I wonder if she can wash it out.”
“God, I hate it when you get hurt,” Gail muttered as the lift slowed to a stop.
Lina tilted her head to the side. “I’m a nice wounded patient,” she declared in a faint voice.
Gail grimly nodded. “That’s what scares the hell out of me,” the older woman admitted.
“Gail,” Lina whispered as her eyelids began to droop and shivers of shock took hold of her body.
“What is it, boss lady?” Gail questioned, wrapping her arm around Lina’s waist.
Lina tried to think of what she had been going to say. The words and thoughts were all jumbled in her head. She wondered if this was how Edge had felt the day they rescued him. If it was, then it was a miracle tha
t he had managed to make it as far as he had.
“I’m cold,” Lina whispered, her head rolling back and her eyes closing.
Chapter Thirteen
Edge turned when he heard the banging on the outer side of the door. Andy jerked out of her seat, sliding the chair to the side and aiming her gun at the door. Bailey and Mirela came around to each side. Mechelle stood next to Edge.
Another impatient knock echoed through the room, this time in a distinct pattern. Mechelle hurried forward and threw back the locks. Andy was shouldering her weapon while Bailey ran to be next to Mechelle. Mirela disappeared into the bathroom.
“She’s hurt bad,” Gail said the moment the door opened.
“Shit,” Andy said.
Bailey was already trying to assess what had happened. Edge surged forward. He reached between the women and picked up Lina’s limp form in his arms. Turning, he strode quickly across the room to their quarters. He gently bent over and laid her on the bed.
“Let me see,” Bailey said, sliding in next to him.
Mirela appeared and handed Bailey a knife. Bailey lifted the material and tried to cut it away. Frustrated with the amount of time it was taking, he reached down and grabbed the ends, ripping apart the bloodstained material.
“Thanks,” Bailey muttered, carefully lifting the makeshift bandage that Gail had pressed against the wound.
“What do you need?” Mirela asked, placing a medium-sized container filled with medical supplies on the crate next to the bed.
Bailey choked back a bitter laugh. “A sterilized operating room back on Earth and a team of doctors,” she replied.
“You can fix her up, can’t you, Bailey?” Mechelle asked.
Edge watched as Bailey dropped the bloodied bandage into a bucket that Andy had silently brought in and placed next to her. He saw her look of indecision as she looked at the supplies. It dawned on him that Bailey wasn’t sure what to do.
“Give me the blue box,” he ordered. “Bailey, the green container has an antiseptic cleanser in it. Clean the wound.”