A handful of seconds passed, when a familiar shimmer appeared where he’d stood. First aboard was Golgrith. The man shivered as he solidified but said nothing. As soon as he was finished, Hunter grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the way. “Go take a seat. You can take your helmet off, but leave your suit on,” Hunter ordered. The crewmember nodded and fell into the nearest empty seat.
The rest of the crew arrived in thirty second intervals. When Wooly finally showed, he moved away from the landing area, but remained near Hunter. “Baynt is next,” he explained.
As expected, the man with the injured leg appeared, and Hunter offered his shoulder as soon as the crewman was fully visible. “Here.” He handed the man over to Wooly. “Take him aft. Challenger is there with the other injured man.”
The little engineer nodded, and together the two made their way to the rear of the ship.
Toreedus was last, which didn’t surprise Hunter. “I don’t know we’re going to repa—”
Hunter grabbed his arm and hauled him off the landing grid. The man stumbled and almost fell before he grabbed the back of a seat. “Sorry,” Hunter told the man. “But I had to clear you away before Sender arrived.”
The moment he finished his sentence, the air shimmered with Sender’s arrival. As she solidified, she removed her helmet and shook her hair free. “Ah! Good old processed air. That’s everyone, Hunter. We’re good to go.”
“Good job, Send. Can you go aft and see if Challenger needs help with the injured? I’ll drive us to the SPF.”
As she hurried to the rear cabin, he turned to face the trawler crew. From the expressions on their faces, they were both relieved to be off that moon, and glad to be in a warmer atmosphere. “Buckle in, men. I’m going to push the engines to get us to the SPF base on Venard Prime, and it could get bumpy along the way.”
Before anyone could answer, he hurried to the front of the ship and assumed the pilot’s chair. It wasn’t long until Three hit hyperspeed and vanished into the blackness.
The trip took less than two hours. By the time Hunter parked the ship into one of the orbiting station’s numerous docking bays, a medical unit was waiting on the other side of the airlock. The rest of the crewmen disembarked while Hunter, Challenger, and Sender went to the office of the head of security, and explained the men’s situation to the Captain of the Day, a woman named G R Six.
“Thank you for your help, Guardians,” the woman smiled. “We’ll be happy to escort these men back to the Ge Horca system.”
“The leader is named Toreedus,” Hunter added. “He’s going to have a shitload of reports to fill out.”
“Not to mention the salvaging they’ll have to do to remove all that rhonidirum off that moon,” Challenger added.
Six agreed. “But that won’t happen until that storm clears out, which, according to our scientists, will be at least another week. Thank you again for your help, Guardians. By the way, if I may ask a personal question, Master Hunter?”
He paused and waited.
“How is StarLight and the baby?”
He couldn’t help the proud grin covering his face. “As luck would have it, Star gave birth to our daughter the other day. I’m on my way back to Synaria now to see them.”
“Congratulations! Any chance the baby could become a future Guardian?”
Hunter laughed. “She’ll have to have a special ability and go through the induction process like the rest of us. But at the moment we have no idea if she’s inherited any of my or Star’s powers, if any. She may be completely powerless, or she could have some other special attributes we’ve yet to discover.”
The COD thanked them again, and the Guardians left the office to head back to the docking bay. Along the way, they were hailed, and Hunter was surprised to see Wooly running to catch up to them. They stopped to see what he wanted.
“Hi, guys. Thanks for waiting. I take it you’re on your way back to Guardian Command?” The little man’s question was for them all, but his attention was focused on Sender. Now that he thought about it, Hunter realized the two had sat together in the rear dual seats on their trip to the station. The same seats he and StarLight used whenever they wanted a private conversation during a mission. The comparison forced him to hide the smile that threatened to ruin the all-business demeanor he meant to show.
“You’d be correct,” Challenger answered for them. “Why?”
It was apparent the engineer slash communications officer was very nervous about how he would approach the trio. Wooly turned to Hunter. “D-did you mean it back on the moon? I mean, what you said you’d do? About talking to Commander?”
Hunter and Challenger exchanged looks. A glance at Sender, who was being unusually quiet, confirmed his suspicions. The woman actually looked hopeful.
“Yes, I meant it. We’re often short-handed when it comes to working on the ships, as well as other things. We still have to finish repairs on Transport Two, not to mention quite a few other things we haven’t yet been able to find the time to fix that were damaged during our fight with the Ombitra. Why do you ask?” Cocking his head at the man, he finally allowed himself to grin. “Thinking about getting out of the trawler business?”
Wooly shuffled his feet, shifting from one side to the other. Again, the engineer glanced at Sender, and this time there was no mistaking the look of adoration on his face.
“Uhh, yeah. Sort of. I mean…”
Challenger cleared his throat. “Say, Hunter, didn’t you tell me you were going to haul back to Command from here, and let Sender and me follow with the ship?”
Actually, Hunter had planned to leave as Challenger surmised, but he hadn’t had the chance to say as much to them. Then again, maybe they’d suspected he would want to hurry home to see his infant daughter.
“Yes, that was my intent,” he admitted.
Challenger gestured at Wooly. “You know, Three could have sustained some damage from that storm. And I don’t have the smarts like you do when it comes to repairs and such. Hunter, what do you think about Wooly joining me and Sender on the return trip? Think Deceiver would object? Sure would ease my mind, in case something happened.”
Hunter turned his back on the others to give himself a moment to compose himself. Otherwise his smirk would have given away the ruse to the young trawler crewman. Taking a deep breath, he rubbed his chin and faced them.
“Sounds like a very good idea to me, Challenger. It would ease my mind greatly to have someone of Wooly’s caliber joining you for the trip home, in the event something should happen to the ship.” Giving Wooly a stern look, Hunter added, “Does Toreedus know you’re abandoning him?”
The young man stood his ground. “No. Not yet. I wanted to see what you would say first.”
“Very well. Go let him know,” Challenger relented, giving him a nod. “We’ll be waiting for you at the docking bay.”
Wooly gave them a smart salute and hurried away, toward the medical bay. They watched him leave, then Hunter laid a hand on each Guardian’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry I haven’t said anything earlier,” he confessed. “But you’re right, Challenger. I was hoping you guys wouldn’t mind if I went ahead and took off, and you follow in Three.”
Challenger chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. I think Sender and I both knew you’d want to get back to base as soon as this mission was cleared.”
“Thanks.” Hunter stepped away a few steps to prevent accidentally enclosing one of them within his shield. “I’ll see you back at—”
“Halloooo! Guardians!”
The call came from the other end of the corridor. Hunter paused as Challenger wryly remarked, “What, again?”
An older man soon appeared, half-running, half-limping toward them. One look at the man’s sweaty, flushed face, and it was evident the guy wasn’t accustomed to running, much less rushing for anything.
He slowed as he neared them, finally stopping a few meters away to bend over and gasp for breath, hands braced on his thigh
s. “Oh, thank the gods I got to you before you left.”
Sender was first to approach the man, reaching out a hand in case he collapsed. “Are you all right? Are you needing help?”
“Yeah. On both counts.” Still breathing heavily, he managed to straighten up. “Actually, I’m hoping you’re on your way to Guardian Command.”
Challenger lifted a questioning eyebrow. “Yes, we are. Why were you wanting to know?”
“Take me with you.”
The man’s request was more of a command than a plea, and its tone rankled Hunter. A quick glance at the other two Guardians confirmed the fact that they were equally unimpressed with the stranger.
“Excuse me,” Challenger spoke. “Why not fly your own ship to Synaria? If you’re unsure how to get there, the Stellar Police would be more than happy to upload the route to your computer.”
“I don’t have a ship,” the man replied. “Well, I did, but the damn thing’s beyond repair, and I ain’t got the creds to buy me even a second-hand blowout. I’ve been hopping junk cruisers for the past month and a half, working as a crew member to pay my way.”
“Is Synaria your final destination?” Sender asked.
“Yeah. In fact, I need to go to Guardian Command. I can’t believe my luck that I ran across you three.”
“Why do you have to go to Guardian Command if you said you didn’t need our help?” Sender questioned.
“I don’t need your help. I need to see someone there.”
The man’s brusque demeanor was irritating, to say the least. It was obvious he was accustomed to getting his way, and the longer they questioned him, the more curt he became.
Warning sirens went off in Hunter’s head. The man is impatient. He’s too anxious, too eager to get to Synaria. And being this close to his goal, he’s becoming agitated the longer we stall.
“Who are you needing to see?” Hunter spoke up.
“StarLight. At least, that’s what I’ve heard she calls herself.”
What she calls herself? His announcement knocked the wind out of Hunter. This guy was demanding to see Star? Why? For what purpose? For that matter, what did he have that was so important that he felt he could simply stroll into Guardian Command to speak with her?
Something wasn’t right. Something didn’t add up, and that creepy feeling he’d felt earlier became a black, oily ball in the pit of his stomach.
It was Sender who managed to regain her composure first. “You need to see StarLight? Who are you, her number one fan?” She gave a half laugh to show she was jesting, when in truth Hunter could tell she was on the defensive. Challenger went along with her.
“Sorry, buddy, but because of the nature of our jobs, we can’t allow people to simply walk onto the base. You’ll need to get the proper clearances. Besides, StarLight is indisposed for the time being. She’s not taking visitors.”
“Oh, she’ll see me all right.” The man was cock sure of himself.
“And why is that?” Hunter asked, unable to help himself.
“Because my name is Aginthon DiMackerlyn. I’m her father.”
Chapter Eight
Warning
Hunter sensed the shock coming from Sender and Challenger, but theirs combined couldn’t match the cold dread coursing through him.
“Her father?” The words blurted out of him before he was aware of it.
DiMackerlyn grinned crookedly. Hunter immediately knew the man was acting, faking whatever emotion he needed to show in order to make whatever story he was about to tell them sound more believable. Well, the man had better think again. Hunter turned on his hunting abilities.
“You see, when she was younger, she and I had a falling out. Teenagers. You know how they can be. They think the rules don’t apply to them. They rebel. They run away from home.” DiMackerlyn shrugged. “Except, the last time was over six years ago. When she didn’t come home, I started searching for her, and I’ve been searching ever since.”
The man was lying. However, a glance at his fellow Guardians confirmed they were buying the guy’s story…so far.
“Could you excuse us for a moment?” Hunter asked. Gesturing for the other two to follow him, he put a little distance between them and DiMackerlyn, to keep what he wanted to say out of earshot.
Challenger leaned close, speaking in a soft voice. “What’s going on, Hunter? Something tells me you’re honed in on this guy. Is he the real deal? Is he Star’s father?”
“Yes, he’s her father, but the story he’s giving us is completely fabricated.” He started to say more, then chose to hold back. If Star wanted her life story exposed, it would be her choice. It wouldn’t come from him.
“Why do you think he’s really looking for her?” Sender asked.
“I have no idea,” Hunter admitted. “But we’re not getting the truth from this man. At least, not all of it.” He ran a hand through his hair.
“You don’t think he’s trying to get Star to go back with him, do you?” Challenger wondered.
“Star’s an adult on any planet,” Sender said. “He has no legal recourse. Besides, if what he says about her running away is the truth, do you think she’s going to want to see him? After all this time?”
“Something else is puzzling me,” Hunter admitted. “Did either of you notice it?”
The other two Guardians paused to think. It was Sender who glanced back at the man standing several meters away, his arms crossed over his chest, a scowl on his face.
“He knows we’re Guardians,” she murmured. “But he doesn’t know us.” Her eyes grew wider, and she looked at Hunter. “He doesn’t know you.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Hunter confirmed. “And I’ll bet that if you mention the Ombitra, he won’t have the foggiest idea what you’re talking about.”
“That’s crazy!” the woman whispered. “Anyone who knows about Star knows about the Ombitra, and about you.”
“Well, he doesn’t, and for the time being I’d like for him to remain in the dark. Look, I’m going to pretend I need to stay here a bit longer. You go ahead and return to base. And take DiMackerlyn with you.”
“Think that’s a wise move?” Challenger queried.
Sender grimaced. “Something tells me that if we deny him passage, he’ll find a way to get to Synaria, now that he’s finally located her. One way or another, he’ll get to Star.”
“No. He won’t get to her,” Hunter refuted. “He may find her, but my wife’s a strong woman. He won’t be able to control her like he did when she was younger. And even if by some chance she caves, which I can promise she won’t, DiMackerlyn will have me to face.”
“What do you think Star will say when you tell her who we’re bringing back with us?” Challenger asked.
“I have no idea. And, frankly, I’m almost afraid to tell her.” At the surprise expressions on the other two Guardian’s faces, he took a deep breath and exhaled it noisily though his mouth. “If you’re guessing there’s no love lost between father and daughter, you’re right.”
“Then why are we allowing him to hitch a ride with us?” Sender asked.
“Because we are her best defense. Because I’m curious to know what the man has planned. And because maybe it’s time for Star to let her father know exactly what she thinks of him. Then maybe he’ll realize everything’s all right. That she’s happy, that he’s not wanted in her life, and that’ll be enough to satisfy his curiosity to where he’ll go back to where he came from and leave her alone.”
Sender snorted, making it clear she highly doubted it.
Challenger gave Hunter a little push. “Go on. Get out of sight before you pop out of sight. We’ll be right behind you.”
Nodding, Hunter turned and hurried away, as if he’d been summoned elsewhere. The moment he turned a corner and he was no longer visible to the others, he threw his shield around him and left the station.
*
Star was in their quarters. He watched for a moment from within his protective bubble as she sat
in one of the chairs facing the huge window wall.
She wore a simple sleeveless blouse and casual pants. Her long, thick black hair was gathered on top of her head. One strap had been lowered, revealing a glistening breast grown fuller during pregnancy. Their daughter lay in her arms, asleep within the white blanket wrapped around her.
Star leaned her head back against the seat, and a smile graced her lips. “I know you’re there, Udo. I felt your presence the moment you arrived.”
Hunter dropped the shield and knelt in front of his wife, his eyes drawn to the tiny bundle in her arms. This time he could see the baby’s face. The features that were so much like Star’s, yet at the same time hinted at his own. Before he could ask, Star answered.
“Her eyes are like mine.”
Violet eyes. Beautiful eyes.
He hesitated slightly, and again Star second-guessed him. “Here. You hold her.”
“I…uhh…” He held out his arms, and Star handed the infant over to him. Gingerly, cautiously, he gathered the baby against his chest, unable to take his gaze away from the little miracle.
“She’s…so small!” His voice cracked at the realization that he had a daughter. That he was a father. After the horror of losing their first child, and the dangerous demands of their job, he had almost given up hope of having a family.
Leaning forward in the chair, Star ran a hand through his short brown curls, then did the same for their daughter. She chuckled softly. “My two curly tops.”
He lifted his face to meet her lips in a soft, sweet kiss. A kiss that spoke of love, but without the fiery prelude for lovemaking. Reluctantly, he watched as she sat back and watched his interaction with the baby.
“I had a feeling you would ditch the transport to arrive before the others. How did the mission go?”
“It went well. Successful.” He grinned. “We may have a new Guardian prospect on board.”
“Oh?” She gave him a quizzical look.
“He’s a young man named Wooly.”
Star giggled. “Wooly? Is that his first or last name?”
HeartStorm (HeartFast Series Book 3) Page 5